The heat was suffocating. Rivers of molten lava oozed down the mountainside, their fiery glow illuminating the jagged terrain. The blistering air shimmered, the ground cracking under the intense pressure. Jin, his body battered and bruised, stirred as the approaching heat woke him from unconsciousness. His eyes flickered open, his vision blurry but quickly sharpening.
"Oboy," he muttered under his breath, gripping his blade tightly as he staggered to his feet. "What kind of explosions are these?"
The ground beneath him was unstable, trembling as lava inched closer. Jin's gaze locked onto Agent 66, who stood motionless in the distance, his oversized parasol-like hat swaying faintly. The masked faces on the hat seemed to twitch, their hollow eyes watching Jin with eerie focus.
Jin's steps were slow but deliberate as he began walking toward Agent 66. His eyes narrowed, his focus sharpening as he summoned something deep within him—something he had never fully unleashed before.
For the first time, Jin utilized his psychic ability: The Blade. Invisible energy radiated from his mind, cutting through the air with terrifying precision. The air seemed to hum with power as the invisible blades materialized and hurtled toward Agent 66.
The first blade whistled past, aiming directly for the enigmatic figure. Agent 66 tilted his head slightly, his movements unnervingly fluid, and dodged the attack with minimal effort. The blade continued its trajectory, slamming into the rocks behind him and obliterating them into dust. A second blade followed, just as deadly, only to meet the same fate—dodged with calculated precision.
Jin froze mid-step, his eyes widening in disbelief. "He dodged them?" he muttered under his breath.
Behind the shimmering barrier, Urashima turned to Seiji, his expression grim. "What just happened? I thought Jin's psychic attacks were invisible."
Seiji, for once, didn't smirk. His voice carried a rare seriousness. "They are," he replied, his eyes narrowing as he studied Agent 66. "That guy isn't normal. He's sensing Jin's mental energy, reading the attacks before they even manifest. Trouble. That's what he is."
Drink jaw clenched. "How much longer until Shenlog gets here?"
Urashima clicked his tongue in irritation. "The barrier's cutting off our communication channels. It's a problem." His gaze shifted back to the battlefield. "And it's getting worse."
Without warning, Agent 66 moved, his speed so blinding it left a ripple in the air. In a split second, he closed the distance between himself and Jin, his gloved hand wrapping around Jin's throat. His grip was unyielding, lifting Jin off the ground as the fire explosion mask on his hat opened its mouth once again.
A faint hum filled the air, rapidly escalating into a deafening roar. A condensed explosion erupted, the sheer force of it erasing everything in its path. The ground where Jin had been standing was obliterated, leaving nothing but scorched earth and molten rock.
Seiji and Urashima watched in stunned silence, their hearts sinking as the smoke cleared.
But something was off.
As the dust settled, Jin was still standing—unscathed and entirely unburned. He was behind Agent 66, his sword drawn, and a faint, ethereal glow radiated from his body.
"Impossible," Urashima whispered. "How—"
Seiji's smirk returned, faint but sharp. "The Will," he muttered.
Jin had foresaw the attack through The Sight and employed The Will, bending reality itself. He had crafted an illusion so convincing that even Agent 66's heightened senses were fooled. The illusion gave him the perfect opportunity to counterattack.
Standing behind the distracted Agent 66, Jin channeled his energy into his sword, the blade glowing faintly as he invoked The Voice. The gravitational force surged through the weapon, distorting the air around it. Jin tipped the blade forward, unleashing a devastating gravitational slash. The attack roared toward Agent 66, defying gravity as it pulled everything in its path downward while maintaining its destructive trajectory.
The ground cracked and groaned under the pressure as the slash struck Agent 66 head-on. His form was pinned in place, the gravitational force pressing him down as the slash tore through the battlefield.
For a moment, it seemed the attack had landed successfully. But then something shifted.
Agent 66's form began to shrink, his body condensing into a tiny, almost insect-like version of himself. He slipped through the cracks in the ground, avoiding the slash entirely. The gravitational force ripped through the field, leveling what remained of the terrain, but Agent 66 was gone.
Jin scanned the battlefield, his senses heightened. The ground beneath him trembled, and he instinctively moved, sensing danger. Agent 66 reappeared beside him in his tiny state, moving at blinding speed. The small figure's gloved fist shot forward, aiming directly for Jin's ribs.
Jin's reflexes kicked in. His eyes flared with the glow of The Sight, allowing him to predict the attack just in time. He pivoted, creating distance between himself and the Agent, the punch narrowly missing its mark.
Jin landed several feet away, his feet skidding against the cracked ground. His breath was heavy, but his grip on his sword remained firm. Agent 66 returned to his full size, his movements slow and deliberate as he turned to face Jin once more.
The tension in the battlefield thickened. The heat of the lava, the tremors of the earth, and the oppressive energy radiating from Agent 66 created a suffocating atmosphere. Jin steadied his breathing, his gaze locked on his opponent.
But then, from the shadows beyond the portal, a voice rang out.
"Pitiful." The word was sharp, dripping with disdain. The voice was deep, commanding, and filled with malice.
Jin froze, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the battlefield. Seiji's attention snapped to the source of the voice, his smirk fading completely.
"Watching you struggle against low-level creatures," the voice continued, its tone mocking. "You keep relying on Seiji's work, don't you?"
A dark laugh echoed through the battlefield, booming and sinister. "Hohohohohohohoho!"
The air grew colder, the weight of the voice alone pressing down on everyone present. Even Agent 66 paused, tilting his head slightly as if acknowledging the presence.
Jin tightened his grip on his sword, his voice low but resolute. "Who's there?"
The laughter continued, reverberating through the battlefield. But no answer came—only silence.